The Vendetta of Felipe Espinosa

by Adam James Jones

As the Civil War raged and goldfields beckoned, a gunman stalked the territories on a mission to kill American settlers. He would elude governors and armies, bounty hunters and posses, until his demise at the climax of a fierce high-country manhunt. By then, Felipe Espinosa had claimed more than thirty lives to quietly become one of the nation's first serial killers and foreign terrorists

A sweeping historical epic, The Vendetta of Felipe Espinosa is a saga of Confederate guerrillas, marauding Indians, a severe religious order, vigilante miners, and one migrant family looking for peace in a violent country.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Westerns

436 pages, Hardcover

First published November 19, 2014

About the author

Adam James Jones was born in Denver and raised in South Park, Colorado. He received a BA from the University of Northern Colorado and an MA in History and Writing from Western New Mexico University. Adam is the recipient of the 2012 Homestead Foundation Fellowship from the Western Writers of America. His work has appeared in numerous publications, including Southwestern American Literature, Wild West, and Darker Times (UK). Adam lives in New Mexico with his wife, the actress Catharine Pilafas.

Reviews

[Robert · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing first novel of epic historical fiction proportion. A real gem about two Mexican families in the harsh, brutal and often quite violent early days of growth for the northern New Mexico territory. This is a novel that tells of a time when the Native Americans, the Mexicans and the ever expansive new Americans clashed in an explosive episode in the history of America. For a first novel I came away very impressed. It seemed a bit strange as it began but as the book progressed it was one of those that I just could not put down, Choose this for your next historical fiction novel and you will not be disappointed.

[Brandon Meyers · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was fortunate to read an advanced copy of this novel and have only the highest praise for the poetic, yet gritty and honest prose that truly throws the reader into the world of the great American West. This story is a tale of familial bonds and classism, love and hatred, colonialism and warfare, and the fluid ties of both blood and bloodshed. If you are a fan of early Cormac McCarthy, this is definitely right up your alley. However, I truly feel that there is something for everyone in this novel. It is so well-written and the characters are so diverse that I think every person can find a character to relate to within these pages.
Read it!

[Paul Parkinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This author has done an amazing amount of research and his twist on the known facts makes a very good read. We need more from this guy, soon.

[Reese Hogan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Part biography and part thriller, The Vendetta of Felipe Espinosa is a fascinating story about the evolution of a killer. The reader first meets Felipe as a child, and witnesses how the violent conflicts between three radically different cultures shapes his youth, and eventually drives him into cruelty and madness. The disturbing plot is backset by a gorgeous land, which Jones easily transports the reader to in exquisite detail. The writing is strong and easy to follow. Although parts of it were graphic, I felt it fit the world Jones had built and didn’t retract from the story. Recommended for true crime readers or historical buffs who want a vivid picture of life in the old west during wartime.

[Michael Morrison · Rating 1 out of 5]

There is not one likable and admirable character in this book.
Sitting here now with the book closed, I cannot think, in fact, of even one sane character.
As a result, I could not finish reading "Vendetta," although I tried manfully.
There was potential. The setting held a lot of possibilities, but the behavior and attitudes of the characters were just so dark and gloomy, I have to wonder about the author: Maybe writing this mess was some kind of therapy.
But not for this reader. Yech.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jones demonstrates a real gift for writing. This is a story that is a very compelling read -- but I never really did get a handle on the motivation of the main character. The majority of the characters in this book are an interesting insight into human motivations. But Felipe, himself, I just couldn't figure out. I am not sure it Jones intended to leave the read asking the question of why or not -- but I just couldn't quite figure him out. I kept waiting for that one defining moment that would send Felipe off the deep end into a long road of revenge -- but I never really saw that it happened.

But for all of that -- the story is thoroughly captivating. I couldn't put it down and loved the story development. For a first novel -- this book is quite an accomplishment and I look forward to see what else Jones comes up with.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. I'm a western gal and love a good western and Adam James Jones' first novel didn't disappoint. The book was so much more than just another novel, it was, "The Vendetta of Felipe Espinosa"...say that a couple of times and you will know what I mean. Reading it through kept the promise of the title. It had a rhythm right and sturdy just like the land of the story. It was James' story to tell and tell it he did and read it I loved. As I much as I loved the title I loved the last lines more.

[Larry · Rating 4 out of 5]

A story of revenge and mindless violence...New Mexico in the mid 1800’s. Mexican farmers are besieged by Union soldiers, Confederates, Indians, Texans, other Mexicans. So when Felipe’s father is killed by a white land grabber, he and his mother go to live with his uncle. Eventually he becomes a vengeful villain, not an anti-hero Robin Hood. Not at all. He and his cousin Jose go on a killing spree, spreading fear and terror throughout the New Mexico and Colorado territories. Action-packed, fast paced tale of the old Southwest, but absolutely NO good guys.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

After meeting the author and discovering that the first serial killer of Colorado terrorized the area where our cabin is, I chose to read this rather gruesome novel. Any book about a killer is gruesome, but the motivation behind Felipe's actions in 1864 is quite mysterious and intriguing.

[Brooke · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 Stars - Oh so good! One of those books I could read again and get more out of it. It was so intriguing and detailed that I took my time to savor it. Had a hard time putting it down.

[Peter Charleston · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ghastly tale about suffering and murder during the 1860's in New Mexico and Colorado.

[Dan Martel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good historical fiction.